More thoughtful thrills in the ‘Alien’ universe
The “Alien” franchise has always been battleground for the philosophical and physical tussles for dominance between human, alien and artificial intelligence. While “Alien” set up the themes, character types and iconography of this universe, 2012’s prequel “Prometheus” established an origin story and philosophy, bringing up questions of faith, spirituality and the risks of creating life.
“Alien: Covenant,” once again directed by Ridley Scott, is the second prequel in the series, chronologically following “Prometheus” and exploring the fallout from the events of that film while offering a rich terrain for an epic battle between the differing forces in this world. The questions posed in the film are universal, and primal, and easy answers are never forthcoming.
The humans in the story are a plucky crew of space explorers; a tightknit group of couples piloting a ship of colonists to a new planet that holds their dreams of a fresh start and new life. When a random shock wave hits the ship’s solar recharging sails, damage is incurred, lives are lost, and the team is diverted from its course. A rogue, seemingly human, transmission offers the opportunity to explore a closer previously hidden planet, so they decide to try their luck — although this roll of the dice is made under some objection.
Rogue transmissions, planets that seem too good to be true and a motley crew of space explorers? It sounds a lot like the “Alien” we know. “Covenant” uses the mythology established by “Prometheus” and fuses it with the story and character types of “Alien.” Mr. Scott explores the tensions between spirituality and science, faith and family, emotional and analytical intelligence, and manages to do all that in the style of a slasher horror film. “Covenant” rips through plot points and action set pieces with the speed of a xenomorph ripping through flesh. The story is a whirlwind as the group is slowly pulled in different directions and picked off one by one, until a final girl, or woman, is left standing.
The final woman is played here by Katherine Waterston, who has been toughened up with a bowl haircut and an odd little cap. She is broken, in mourning, trying to put herself back together and keep fighting for her dream. It takes a bit of time, but Ms. Waterston ably fills the Ripley-sized shoes of Sigourney Weaver, both physically and mentally. In the “Alien” franchise, whether human, alien or artificial, female intelligence is proven to be the most versatile and insightful, and Ms. Waterston embodies that with finesse.
But no performance eclipses that of
Michael Fassbender, who played the android David in “Prometheus” and here plays a later model of the same droid, Walter. From Ash in “Alien” to David, android intelligence has always been in many ways superior, but less easy to predict. Mr. Fassbender is given the opportunity to give a wide-ranging and fascinatingly campy performance, and it’s no surprise he steals the show. Much of the spiritual questions about creation are wrapped up in Mr. Fassbender’s character, who questions his provenance and if he himself can create. This desire for procreation and preservation of the self — human, alien or artificial — is what motivates every being in the “Alien” universe, and in “Covenant,” Mr. Scott sets up a thrilling thunderdome in which we can watch this bloody battle unfold.